East Lake Library Kids Book Club

Found

2010-11-18T12:43:00.003-06:00

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
When thirteen-year-olds Jonah and Chip, who are both adopted, learn they were discovered on a plane that appeared out of nowhere, full of babies with no adults on board, they realize that they have uncovered a mystery involving time travel and two opposing forces, each trying to repair the fabric of time.

"This book's exciting premise and cliff-hanger ending will leave readers on the edge of their seats and begging for more."
-School Library Journal

Book Club Meeting: 29 January 2011

Request your copy here!

Eleven

2010-11-18T12:38:00.003-06:00

Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff
When Sam, who can barely read, discovers an old newspaper clipping just before his eleventh birthday, it brings forth memories from his past, and, with the help of a new friend at school and the castle they are building for a school project, his questions are eventually answered.

"Children growing up in unconventional families will appreciate Sam's devoted family of friends, and many readers will discover empathy and insight as Sam struggles to read words that seem to move like spiders . . . across the page."
-Booklist

Book Club Meeting: 8 January 2011

Request your copy here!

A Crooked Kind of Perfect

2010-10-28T16:01:00.002-05:00

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban
Ten-year-old Zoe Elias, who longs to play the piano but must resign herself to learning the organ, instead, finds that her musicianship has a positive impact on her workaholic mother, her jittery father, and her school social life.

"In the end, resilient and resourceful Zoe finds perfection in the most imperfect and unique situations, and she shines. The refreshing writing is full of pearls of wisdom, and readers will relate to this fully developed character. The sensitive story is filled with hope and humor. It has a feel-good quality and a subtle message about how doing one's best and believing in oneself are what really matter."
-School Library Journal

Book Club Meeting: 18 December 2010

Request your copy here!

Mystery of the Third Lucretia

2010-10-27T13:49:00.003-05:00

The Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan Runholt
While traveling in London, Paris, and Amsterdam, fourteen-year-old best friends Kari and Lucas solve an international art forgery mystery.

"Kari and Lucas are appealing young sleuths; Kari's intuitive approach is a good complement to Lucas's photographic memory and analytical mind. Readers will no doubt look forward to reading more adventures of these teen detectives."
-Kirkus Reviews."

Book Club Meeting: 27 November 2010

Request your copy here!

Magyk

2010-10-27T13:43:00.003-05:00

Magyk by Angie Sage
After learning that she is the Princess, Jenna is whisked from her home and carried toward safety by the Extraordinary Wizard, those she always believed were her father and brother, and a young guard known only as Boy 412--pursued by agents of those who killed her mother ten years earlier.

"A quick-reading, stand-alone, deliciously spellbinding series opener."
-Kirkus Reviews

Book Club Meeting: 6 November 2010

Request your copy here!

Larklight by Philip Reeve

2010-08-26T16:09:00.003-05:00

Larklight by Philip Reeve
In an alternate Victorian England, young Arthur and his sister Myrtle, residents of Larklight, a floating house in one of Her Majesty's outer space territories, uncover a spidery plot to destroy the solar system.

Readers will eagerly suspend disbelief; they will be riveted by the exciting plot’s twists and turns as our heroes face death-defying adventures and narrow escapes, all at a frenetic pace.
-School Library Journal

Book Club Meeting: 16 October 2010

Request your copy here!

Jackie's Wild Seattle by Will Hobbs

2010-08-26T15:47:00.002-05:00

Jackie's Wild Seattle by Will Hobbs
Fourteen-year-old Shannon and her little brother, Cody, spend the summer with their uncle, helping at a wildlife rescue center named Jacke's Wild Seattle.

Based on a real wildlife center and the experiences of some of its denizens, this story will reach deep into the hearts of young readers.
-School Library Journal

Book Club Meeting: 25 September 2010

Request your copy here!

Schooled

2010-02-25T17:27:00.003-06:00

Schooled by Gordon Kormon

Homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Capricorn (Cap) Anderson has never watched television, tasted a pizza, or even heard of a wedgie. But when his grandmother lands in the hospital, Cap is forced to move in with a guidance counselor and attend the local middle school. While Cap knows a lot about tie-dyeing and Zen Buddhism, no education could prepare him for the politics of public school.

"Korman's novel narrated by the good, the bad and the only slightly involved is his usual smart, funny, slightly skewed realism. Tweens will definitely identify and could view their grandparents in a whole new light."
-Kirkus Reviews

Book Club Meeting: 21 August 2010

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Leepike Ridge

2010-02-25T17:21:00.003-06:00

Leepike Ridge by N.D. Wilson

While his widowed mother continues to search for him, eleven-year-old Tom, presumed dead after drifting away down a river, finds himself trapped in a series of underground caves with another survivor and a dog, and pursued by murderous treasure-hunters.

"There are enough twists and turns in the plot to keep both seasoned and reluctant readers turning the pages. Think Mark Twain with a contemporary and utterly captivating twist."
-School Library Journal

Book Club Meeting: 17 July 2010

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Princess Academy

2010-02-25T17:12:00.003-06:00

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

While attending a strict academy for potential princesses with the other girls from her mountain village, fourteen-year-old Miri discovers unexpected talents and connections to her homeland.

"Strong suspense and plot drive the action as the girls outwit would-be kidnappers and explore the boundaries of leadership, competition, and friendship."
-Booklist Review

Book Club Meeting: 19 June 2010

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

2009-12-11T17:44:00.005-06:00

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos

To the constant disappointment of his mother and his teachers, Joey has trouble paying attention or controlling his mood swings when his prescription medications wear off and he starts getting worked up and acting wired.

"Most teachers and students know at least one child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and this book will surely help them become more understanding, even as they enjoy Gantos' fresh writing style and tart sense of humor."
-Booklist Review

Book Club Meeting: 8 May 2010

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Need more Joey Pigza? Further adventures inclue:

Hana's Suitcase: a True Story

2009-12-11T17:32:00.003-06:00

Hana's Suitcase: a True Story by Karen Levine

A biography of a Czech girl who died in the Holocaust, told in alternating chapters with an account of how the curator of a Japanese Holocaust center learned about her life after Hana's suitcase was sent to her.

"Levine successfully incorporates the two stories: a bleak story of a young girl's pointless suffering and death at the hands of fellow humans, the other a hopeful one of children, a world away in space and time from the events that deprived Hana of her future, who vow "never again."
-Kirkus Reviews

Book Club Meeting: 17 April 2010

Ask a librarian for a copy of the book or request your copy online.

Poppy

2009-12-11T17:28:00.006-06:00

Poppy by Avi

Poppy the deer mouse urges her family to move next to a field of corn big enough to feed them all forever, but Mr. Ocax, a terrifying owl, has other ideas.

"An engaging blend of romance, suspense and parody, this fantasy is well-nigh irresistible."
-Publishers Weekly Review

Book Club Meeting: 13 March 2010

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

There's more Poppy! Give these "tails" a whirl:

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat

2009-12-11T17:12:00.007-06:00

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell

When Emmy discovers that she and her formerly loving parents are being drugged by their evil nanny with rodent potions that can change people in frightening ways, she and some new friends must try everything possible to return things to normal.

"A mystery is cleverly woven into this fun and, at times, hilarious caper, and children are likely to find themselves laughing out loud during some parts. A medley of endearing characters adds to an already delightful read."
-School Library Journal

Book Club Meeting: 20 February 2010

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

For more Emmy adventures, try:

The Cookcamp

2009-12-11T15:21:00.005-06:00

The Cookcamp by Gary Paulsen
During World War II, a little boy is sent to live with his grandma, a cook in a camp for workers building a road through the wilderness.

"While the boy is very young, his experiences are universal, making this a superb book for readers just old enough to look back and remember their childhoods and grandparents with a feeling of nostalgia."
-School Library Journal

Book Club Meeting: 16 January 2010

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

The City of Ember

2009-08-29T11:37:00.004-05:00

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions.

"Thanks to full-blooded characters every bit as compelling as the plot, Lina and Doon's search parallels the universal adolescent quest for answers. Readers will sit on the edge of their seats as each new truth comes to light."
-Publisher's Weekly Review

Book Club Meeting: 21 November 2009

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

2009-08-29T11:24:00.004-05:00

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
When suburban Claudia Kincaid decides to run away, she knows she doesn't just want to run "from" somewhere she wants to run "to" somewhere--to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and preferably elegant. She chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Knowing that her younger brother, Jamie, has money and thus can help her with the serious cash flow problem she invites him along. Once settled into the museum, Claudia and Jamie, find themselves caught up in the mystery of an angel statue that the museum purchased at an auction for a bargain price of $250. The statue is possibly an early work of the Renaissance master Michelangelo, and therefore worth millions. Is it? Or isn't it? Claudia is determined to find out. This quest leads Claudia to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the remarkable old woman who sold the statue and to some equally remarkable discoveries about herself.

WINNER OF THE NEWBERRY MEDAL

Book Club Meeting: 19 September 2009

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Lunch Money

2009-03-26T15:37:00.005-05:00

Lunch Money by Andrew Clements
Twelve-year-old Greg, who has always been good at moneymaking projects, is surprised to find himself teaming up with his lifelong rival, Maura, to create a series of comic books to sell at school.

"The characters are rich with interesting quirks and motivations, including Mr. Z, a blood-phobic math teacher. Along with providing a fast-paced and humorous story line, the author examines concepts of true wealth, teamwork, community mindedness, and the value of creative expression."
-School Library Journal

Book Club Meeting: 29 August 2009

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

The Seer of Shadows

2009-03-26T15:33:00.005-05:00

The Seer of Shadows by Avi
In New York City in 1872, fourteen-year-old Horace, a photographer's apprentice, becomes entangled in a plot to create fraudulent spirit photographs, but when Horace accidentally frees the real ghost of a dead girl bent on revenge, his life takes a frightening turn.

"Avi's latest is a fast-paced, yet haunting portrayal of an uprightàboy trying to make his way in a world that has suddenly gone strange and dangerous. Written from the point of view of Horace as an adult, this engaging novel has great immediacy andàstrong narrative drive."
-Booklist Review

Book Club Meeting: 25 July 2009

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Everything on a Waffle

2009-03-26T15:28:00.004-05:00

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath
Eleven-year-old Primrose living in a small fishing village in British Columbia recounts her experiences and all that she learns about human nature and the unpredictability of life in the months after her parents are lost at sea.

"A laugh-out-loud pleasure from beginning to triumphant end."
-Kirkus Reviews

Book Club Meeting: 27 June 2009

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Ivy and Bean

2009-03-21T17:57:00.007-05:00

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
When seven-year-old Bean plays a mean trick on her sister, she finds unexpected support for her antics from Ivy, the new neighbor, who is less boring than Bean first suspected.

"Readers are bound to embrace this spunky twosome and eagerly anticipate their continuing tales of mischief and mayhem."
-Kirkus Reviews

Book Club Meeting: 30 May 2009

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

The Wright 3

2008-08-30T12:29:00.008-05:00

The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett
In the midst of a series of unexplained accidents and mysterious coincidences, sixth-graders Calder, Petra, and Tommy lead their classmates in an attempt to keep Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Robie House from being demolished.

"Another tour de force blending art, math, philosophy, history and literature."
-Kirkus Reviews

Book Club Meeting: 25 April 2009

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Gossamer

2008-08-30T12:26:00.008-05:00

Gossamer by Lois Lowry
While learning to bestow dreams, a young dream giver tries to save an eight-year-old boy from the effects of both his abusive past and the nightmares inflicted on him by the frightening Sinisteeds.

"The prose is light as gossamer; the story as haunting as a dream."
-Kirkus Review

Book Club Meeting: 28 March 2009

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Bud, Not Buddy

2008-08-30T12:20:00.006-05:00

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression, escapes a bad foster home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father--the renowned bandleader, H.E. Calloway of Grand Rapids.

"Bud's journey, punctuated by Dickensian twists in plot and enlivened by a host of memorable personalities, will keep readers engrossed from first page to last."
-Publishers' Weekly

Book Club Meeting: 28 February 2009

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

The Thief Lord

2008-08-30T12:15:00.009-05:00

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Two brothers, having run away from the aunt who plans to adopt the younger one, are sought by a detective hired by their aunt, but they have found shelter with--and protection from--Venice's "Thief Lord."

"Funke delineates her characters and the changing textures of their relationships with masterful subtlety, as well as sometimes-puckish humor. It's a compelling tale, rich in ingenious twists, with a setting and cast that will linger in readers' memories."
-School Library Journal

Book Club Meeting: 31 January 2009

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

The Year of the Dog

2008-06-28T16:44:00.021-05:00

by Grace Lin
Frustrated at her seeming lack of talent for anything, a young Taiwanese American girl sets out to apply the lessons of the Chinese Year of the Dog, those of making best friends and finding oneself, to her own life.

"Lin does a remarkable job capturing the soul and the spirit of books like those of Hayward or Maud Hart Lovelace, reimagining them through the lens of her own story, and transforming their special qualities into something new for today's young readers."
-Booklist

Book Club Meeting: 29 November 2008

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Redwall

2008-06-28T16:44:00.020-05:00

by Brian Jacques
When the peaceful life of ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes, Matthias, a young mouse, determines to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior which, he is convinced, will help Redwall's inhabitants destroy the enemy.

"The quality of the writing, the rich cast of characters, the detailed accounts of medieval warfare, and Jacques' ability to tell a good story and make readers think all earn Redwall a place on library shelves."
-School Library Journal

Book Club Meeting: 27 December 2008

UPDATE: BOOK CLUB WILL BE CANCELLED FOR THIS MONTH. WE WILL RESUME OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS IN JANUARY.

Dead Reckoning: a Pirate Voyage With Captain Drake

2008-06-28T16:43:00.008-05:00

by Laurie Lawlor
Emmet, a fifteen-year-old orphan, learns hard lessons about survival when he sails from England in 1577 as a servant aboard the Golden Hind--the ship of his cousin, the explorer and pirate Francis Drake--on its three-year circumnavigation of the world.

"Based as closely as possible on the sometimes-scant historical record, Lawlor's work is full of adventure and lively detail."
-Kirkus Reviews

Book Club Meeting: 25 October 2008

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

So B. It

2008-06-28T16:42:00.013-05:00

by Sarah Weeks
After spending her life with her mentally retarded mother and agora phobic neighbor, twelve-year-old Heidi sets out from Reno, Nevada, to New York to find out who she is.

"This is lovely writing--real, touching, and pared cleanly down to the essentials."
-Booklist

Book Club Meeting: 27 September 2008

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

2008-03-29T16:15:00.007-05:00

by Brian Selznick
When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toyseller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardized.

"Opening with cinematic immediacy, a series of drawings immerses readers in Hugo's mysterious world. Exquisitely chosen art sequences are sometimes stopped moments, sometimes moments of intense action and emotion. The book, an homage to early filmmakers as dreammakers, is elegantly designed to resemble the flickering experience of silent film melodramas. Fade to black and cue the applause!"
-Kirkus Reviews

Book Club Meeting: 30 August 2008

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

How to Steal a Dog

2008-03-29T16:05:00.006-05:00

by Barbara O'Connor
Living in the family car in their small North Carolina town after their father leaves them virtually penniless, Georgina, desperate to improve their situation and unwilling to accept her overworked mother's calls for patience, persuades her younger brother to help her in an elaborate scheme to get money by stealing a dog and then claiming the reward that the owners are bound to offer.

"Speaking with at times heartbreaking honesty, this likable young narrator convincingly articulates her frustration, resentment and confusion as she comes to her decisions. O'Connor once again smoothly balances challenging themes with her heroine's strength and sense of humor."
-Publishers Weekly Review

Book Club Meeting: 26 July 2008

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

2008-03-29T15:45:00.013-05:00

by Trenton Lee Stewart
After passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children are selected for a secret mission that requires them to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.

"Low in physical violence, while being rich in moral and ethical issues, as well as in appealingly complex characters and comedy sly and gross, this Lemony Snicket–style outing sprouts hooks for hearts and minds both—and, appropriately, sample pen-and-ink illustrations that look like Brett Helquist channeling Edward Gorey."
-Kirkus Reviews

Book Club Meeting: 28 June 2008

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

And don't miss the sequel:
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

No Talking

2008-02-13T21:12:00.005-06:00

by Andrew Clements
The noisy fifth grade boys of Laketon Elementary School challenge the equally loud fifth grade girls to a "no talking" contest.

"The school dynamics are spot-on, and the paradoxical notion of opening up one's experiences of the world by imposing constraints upon it will intrigue readers of any age."
-Booklist

Book Club Meeting: 31 May 2008

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Hoot

2008-02-13T21:00:00.006-06:00

by Carl Hiaasen
Roy, who is new to his small Florida community, becomes involved in another boy's attempt to save a colony of burrowing owls from a proposed construction site.

"Hilarious from the get-go, Hoot is, well, a hoot!"
-Reading Today

Book Club Meeting: 26 April 2008

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Clementine

2008-02-13T20:57:00.009-06:00

by Sara Pennypacker
While sorting through difficulties in her friendship with her neighbor Margaret, eight-year-old Clementine gains several unique hairstyles while also helping her father in his efforts to banish pigeons from the front of their apartment building.

"Clementine's first-person narration is fresh and winsome, and the episodic plot is layered yet accessible. Frazee's pen-and-ink illustrations bounce along the pages with the same energy as the story."
-Horn Book

Book Club Meeting: 29 March 2008

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

More Clementine stories...

The Talented Clementine

Fergus Crane

2008-02-13T20:52:00.005-06:00

by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
Nine-year-old Fergus Crane's life is filled with classes on the school ship Betty Jeanne, interesting neighbors, and helping with his mother's work until a mysterious box flies into his window and leads him toward adventure.

"Talking penguins, a lunchbox that can draw maps and a musical about a fish on a bicycle contribute to the overall air of endearing silliness; the narrative incorporates these amusingly ludicrous elements with matter-of-fact ease. As with the Edge Chronicles, creative page layouts incorporate Riddell's whimsical illustrations in unusual ways, at times pleasingly blurring the line between novel and graphic novel.
-Publishers Weekly

Book Club Meeting: 23 February 2008

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

Other Far-Flung Adventures...

The World According to Humphrey

2008-02-13T20:46:00.039-06:00

by Betty J. Birney
Humphrey, pet hamster at Longfellow School, learns that he has an important role to play in helping his classmates and teacher.

"Humphrey's views underscore the importance of knowing the full story before making judgments, and his presence makes a positive difference in the lives of the people he meets. All in all, a winning book that will appeal to children who like tales about animals, school life, and friendship."
-School Library Journal

Book Club Meeting: 26 January 2008

Ask a librarian for help getting a copy or request your copy online.

More Humphrey adventures!